State Of Sound: Make Your Current Gaming Headset Work With Xbox One Now

For months, we’ve been reporting on Microsoft’s cumbersome approach to game chat on the Xbox One. We’ve heard a lot about improvements in voice technology requiring the new connector. It seems that might not be entirely accurate.

In an instructional video, YouTube user “Tactical Missions” has laid out how to convert a number of Turtle Beach and Astro headsets for use on the new console. You’ll need to strip some wires, burn away enamel on others, and (if you choose) solder things together for security.

This will require that you void your Xbox One headset warranty, but according to the video, it will work perfectly if executed to specification. Be sure to read the notes for the different models in the video description, too.

As a reminder, if you don’t know what you’re doing, get some help. This will render your warranty invalid, and for some of the headset models, will render them unusable on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. We've reached out to Microsoft for comment and more technical explanation of how the new connector impacts chat audio on the Xbox One.

Thanks to reader Mark for the tip!

Our TakeThere is no reason that Microsoft couldn’t mass produce an adapter that that takes a four-pole connection and plugs into the Xbox One controller. The fact that all current hardware is compatible with the proper connections means that this should have absolutely been something present at launch. Fancy new connectors are great, but when they render expensive peripherals that would otherwise work inoperable, they do consumers a disservice.